Counter-balance for metal shears



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. AIKEN. COUNTER BALANCE POR METAL SHEARS', &e.

Patented Feb. 18, 1890.

INVENTOR ln i( .e N.

N. PETERS. Phallrlikho (No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 2.

H. AIKfEN. EOUNTEE BALANCE EOE METAL sEEAEs, En. No. 421,537. Y Patented Feb. 18, 1890,

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Patented Feb. 18, 1890.

H. AIKEN.

RS. FholvLIlMmpMr. Wuhlnsinrk D. C,

COUNTER BALANCE POR METAL SHEARS, &o.

(No Model.)

(No Model.) v

H. AIKEN. GOUNTER BALANCE POR METAL SHBARS, 65o.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Patented Peb.l 18, 1890.

, INVENTOR.'

WITNESSES.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY AIKEN, OF HOMESTEAD, PENNSYLVANIA.

COUNTER-BALANCE FOR METAL sHEARs, sbo.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Lett-ers Patent N0. 421,537, dated February v18, 1890.

Application tiled March 30, 1889. Serial No. 305,412. (No-model.)

To a/ZZ whom 1t/Amay concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY AIKEN, of Homestead, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Counter-Balances for Metal Shears, dac., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is afront elevation of my improved shears. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof on the line II II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line III III of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation of aportion of the shears. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section on the line V V 0f Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevation of amodited form of that portion of the shears shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is avertical section on the line VII VII of Fig. 6.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each.

In the drawings, 2 represents the frame or body of the shears. i

3 is the stationary shear-knife, and 4 is the moving shear-knife, which is secured to the lower edge of a vertically movable knife holder or head 5, the shape of which is shown in front elevation, vertical section, and horizontal section, respectively, in Figs. l, 2, and 3. The lateral ends of the knife-holder are made angular in form and fit against the vertical faces of the shear-frame, as shown in Fig. 3. It is held in place andl guided in its Yvertical motions by means of face-plates 6,

having beveled inner sides adapted to lit against the beveled ends of the moving head,

and having lateral heels or projecting portions b, which extend to the sides of the shearframe and bear against the ends of vertical recesses formed in the latter, as shown in Fig. 3.

7 7 are bolts, which extend. through the shear-frame and the face-plates 6 at right angles to the outer faces of the latter.

8 are bolts traversing the shoulders b and the shear-frame transversely to the bolts 7, and l l are set-bolts, which extend through the shoulders b, and at their inner ends bear against the shear-frame. By means of these several bolts the face-plates can be adjusted to fit Very accurately against the ends of the movin gknife-holder Without binding upon the In adjusting the face-plates their proper position relatively to the shear-knife is determined by setting of the bolts l, and when thusset in such position as to confine the shearblade Without binding they are firmly locked in place by tightening the bolts 7 and 8.

I am not the first to form a shear-knife holder with laterally-beveled edges and to hold it in place by face-plates or guide-strips. The novelty of my invention in this regard consists in providingthe face-plate with a lateral shoulder or projection bolted to the shear-frame and provided with meansfor adjustment, substantially as hereinbefore described, the advantage of this construction being that the knife-holder is adj ustably held with great security, the face-plate is very easy to adjust, and is so braced by its bearing at the lateral shoulder that it Will not yield under the lateral strain to which it is subjected in the use of the shears. struction is simpler, requiring fewer parts and possessing greater strength, and affording better facilities for adjustment than any prior construction known to me. I

The knife-holder is reciprocated vertically by power transmitted from a rotary shaft 9 through eccentrics 10 and connecting-rods 11., the shaft being driven by means of suitable gearing 12 .and a clutch 13 or otherwise.

In order to counterbalance the knife-holder and to prevent loose motion between it and the ends of the connecting-rods 11, I employ the device shown in Figs. l, 2, 4, and 5, 'consisting of a motor-cylinder 14, connected With or mounted on the shaft 9 and having a piston 15, whose rod is connected directly with the knifeholder. A continuous pressure of a fluid-such as steam or Water-is exerted on the piston, and is transmitted to the knifeholder, which is counterbalanced thereby, and

This conas this pressure is opposed to the action of the eccentrics the shaft itself is balanced and strain thereon in the act of shearing is very largely prevented, While the constant drawing of the knife-holder against the ends of the connecting-rods entirely prevents loose moi tion of these parts and renders the shears noiseless and regular in their action.

The cylinder is mounted on the shaft preferably as follows: A box 16, made in sections, having an internal anti-friction lining 17, is placed around the shaft and is connected by rods 1S with the cylinder 14, so that the shaft can rotate freely Within the box.

2O is the fluid-supply pipe of the cylinder, and 19 is a cup or pan situate on the pistonrod below the cylinder and designed to catch the drip therefrom.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show a modified form of this arrangement ot' the counterbalancing cylinder, in which the cylinder, instead of being stispended from the box 16, is placed above the saine, the plunger or piston 15 being preferably fixed to the box, and the cylinder being vertically movable thereon. The rods 1S, connecting the cylinder with the knife-head, pass through suitable sockets in the box. rlhe Huid-supply pipe 2O enters the plunger, which for this purpose is made hollow, and instead of the plungerbeing vertically movable, as in Figs. L1 and 5, the cylinder is vertically movable; but the principle of operation in both forms of the apparatus is substantially the same.

Other modifications in form and arrange-` ment of the parts of the apparatus Within the scope of my invention will suggest themselves to the skilled mechanic.

I do not claim,broadly, a counterbalanced shear-knife holder; but I believe I am the first to arrange the counterbalancing mechanism on the shaft instead of placing it on aspecial. cntablature, the advantage of myfconstruction being that it isV very simple and coniparativelyinexpensive, and that it not only counterbalances the knife-head, but by opposing the cams renders the motion ot' the machine very regular.

1. The combination of the moving head, its 'driving-shaft, and a counterbalancing cylinder mounted on the shaft and connected with the head, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination of the movinghead, its driving-shaft, a box 1G, set on the shaft so that the latter is rotato ry therein, and a powercylinder connected With said boxes and also connected with the head, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination of the moving head, the machine-trame, a retaining face-plate having a lateral projection or heel b, having a bearing at the end against the machine-fram e, and securing-bolts, substantially as and for the purposes described.

et. The combination, with the moving head, of the machine-frame, a laterally-adjustable face-platehaving a projection or heel, setscrews 1, passing through said projection and bearing against the machine-frame, and locking-bolts 7 and 8, by Which the face-plate may be adjusted and fixed, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of March, A. D. 1889.

. HENRY AIKEN. Witnesses:

W. 13. Conwnv, THOMAS W. BAKEWELL. 

